Pusey to head up WuXiPRA Chinese joint venture

WuXiPRA, the joint venture set up earlier this year to provide Phase I-IV clinical-trial services to clients of WuXi PharmaTech and PRA in China, Hong Kong and Macau, has appointed the former head of Theorem Clinical Research, Dr. James Pusey, as the Shanghai-based venture’s president and general manager.

Pusey has more than 25 years’ experience in medicine, international clinical trial management, contract research services, and global pharmaceutical sales, marketing and clinical operations, WuXiPRA noted.

He was the founding chief executive officer (CEO) of Theorem Clinical Research, where Pusey served as president and CEO, executive chairman and board director from 2009 through to 2013.

Previously he was senior vice president and general manager of global clinical development at MDS Pharma Services.

During his tenure at both of these global contract research organisations, Pusey successfully reorganised and developed their Asian businesses, generating significant growth, WuXiPRA pointed out.

CRO of choice

“Under James’s leadership, we believe WuXiPRA will become the clinical CRO of choice in China,” commented Dr. Ge Li, chairman and CEO of WuXi PharmaTech.

“WuXi PharmaTech’s local expertise and PRA’s leading-edge global systems and processes will enable customers to conduct the highest-quality clinical trials in China quickly and successfully for Chinese and international regulatory filings,” he added.

The joint venture, WuXiPRA Clinical Research (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., has offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, Hong Kong, and Guangzhou, as well as access to “several thousand” registered clinical trial sites in China.